The United States Postal Service may have discovered a bonding agent to unite a nation deeply fractured following this month's elections: the introduction of a Betty White stamp. On Friday, USPS announced that the beloved actress, renowned for her roles in "The Golden Girls," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Boston Legal," and numerous other hits, will grace a 2025 Forever stamp. White, who passed away in late December 2021, mere weeks shy of her centenary, will be immortalized in this manner. However, the Postal Service has yet to disclose the stamp's release date.
"Betty White (1922-2021), an iconic figure of American television, brought wit and warmth to viewers for seven decades," the Postal Service declared in unveiling the stamp, which captures White's radiant smile based on a 2010 photograph taken by celebrity photographer Kwaku Alston. "The comedian, who garnered a new fan base among younger generations well into her 90s, was also revered as a compassionate advocate for animals." Boston-based artist Dale Stephanos skillfully transformed Alston's photograph into a digital illustration.
"I yearn to send a letter to my 18-year-old self, adorned with this stamp, reassuring him that all will be well," Stephanos posted on Facebook. Regardless of political leanings, self-professed supporters of President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris expressed delight on social media.
"Betty White was my lifelong hero! I even had a doll named Betty White when I was a little girl," a Trump supporter posted on X, the former Twitter platform. "Something to brighten this dreadful week: we're getting a Betty White stamp," a pro-Harris account on X posted.
White combined a wholesome image with a penchant for risqué humor. Her television career blossomed in the early 1950s and flourished as she aged. "The only 'Saturday Night Live' host I've ever seen receive a standing ovation at the after-party," Seth Meyers tweeted after her demise. "A party where she ordered a vodka and a hotdog and stayed till the very end."
